Serengeti National Park
Experience the best private safari with Kogatende Serengeti Safari.
- Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is the iconic destination for African safaris, especially famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, where over 2 million animals move through the plains and cross into the Masai Mara before returning to Ngorongoro. Beyond the migration, it’s one of the best places to see Africa’s “Big Five”—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos—and countless other species in their natural habitat.
With thousands of predators like hyenas, lions, and leopards, the Serengeti offers thrilling wildlife viewing year-round. Animals are always in sight, making every game drive an adventure, whether you’re watching a hunt or just enjoying the sights of the endless plains.
Given its size, the Serengeti is split into North, South, East, West, and Central, each with unique landscapes and wildlife encounters. Visitors can choose from simple campsites to high-end lodges like the Four Seasons, and with so much to see, stays can range from a single day to several weeks.
Best Time To Go
January to February and June to October (Different areas are best at different times)
High Season
July to March (The Seronera area is crowded)
Size
14,763km² / 5,700mi²
Altitude
1,140-2,099m / 3,740-6,886ft
View Serengeti National Park Gallery
Highlights
The Great Migration
the annual migratory circuit of over a million wildebeest and other ungulates, draws predators and tourists alike.
River Crossings
Ungulates run the gauntlet of predators waiting at the rivers they must cross during the migration.
Predators
the abundance of prey means Serengeti boasts the greatest concentration of large predators, including lion, cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena, on earth.
Untouched Ecosystems
Careful management of the environment ensures a diversity of habitats; home to innumerable species of fauna and flora.
Excellent Infrastructure
Easily accessible with a vast network of roads, several airstrips and a huge variety of accommodation options.
Retina Hippo Pool
Home to some 200-honking, jostling hippos - a cacophonic sight in central Serengeti, not to be missed.
Bologonja Springs
Seldom visited natural springs that offer both tranquillity and diverse sightings at the water and nearby salt lick.
Moru Kopjes
Your best chance of seeing Serengeti’s heavily protected black rhinos amid the dense bush around the rocky outcrops.
The Different Areas of the Serengeti
Central Serengeti (Seronera)
The Seronera Valley, also called the Big Cat Capital of Africa, is the heart of the Serengeti and has many of the park’s permanent lodges and main airstrip. Because of this, it can get crowded with tourists, especially during peak season, which might make game viewing less peaceful. Still, Seronera is rich with wildlife—large herds of zebras, wildebeests, elephants, and antelopes are often seen here. This abundance of animals attracts predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, making it a top spot to see them in action.
Seronera is also one of the best places to spot the elusive leopard, thanks to the open savanna landscape of gentle hills and acacia trees, which makes it easier to see wildlife. The Great Migration usually passes through this area from April to June and again from October to December.
Western Corridor and Grumeti
The Western Corridor, in the Kirawira region, is one of the best spots in the Serengeti to witness the excitement of the Great Migration. Here, herds of wildebeests and zebras face a major challenge as they cross the Grumeti River between May and July, facing not only strong currents but also huge crocodiles waiting to feast. Even after crossing, the danger isn’t over, as other predators lurk nearby.
Outside of migration season, this area is quieter but still offers rich wildlife viewing. The landscape is a mix of riverbanks, floodplains, woodlands, and savannas, stretching all the way to Lake Victoria. It’s also the only spot in the Serengeti where you can see colobus monkeys and kongoni antelope among thick forests and bushy thickets.
Northern Serengeti
Located between Seronera and Kenya’s Masai Mara, this area is quiet and less developed, making it a perfect choice for those looking to avoid the crowds. The landscape is typical Serengeti, with rolling grasslands filled with wildlife, especially when the migration passes through in June/July and again in September to November. One of the highlights is the Mara River crossing, where herds risk the journey across dangerous waters.
The Lobo Valley in this region hosts plenty of predators, while giraffes, elephants, topi antelope, and other animals roam the area. The best time to visit is during the dry season, as animals tend to spread out when it rains. Bologonja Springs and nearby salt licks attract many species, making it ideal for game viewing.
Southern Serengeti
From December to May, the large herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope gather on the southern plains of Serengeti, near the Ngorongoro border, for calving season. In February, the plains fill with the sounds of thousands of newborns, who can walk within minutes and run with the herd in hours. These young calves must grow quickly, as the herds will soon head north in search of fresh grazing when the dry season begins.
With so many young animals around, predators are always close, ready to hunt, and competition among them is intense during this season.
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